1876
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[Chap. LXXV.]—Buonaparte marches upon Blucher, who is in possession of Soissons—Attacks the Place without success—Battle of Craonne—Blucher Retreats on Laon—Battle of Laon—Napoleon is compelled to withdraw on the 11th—He attacks Rheims, which is evacuated by the Russians—Defeat at Bar-sur-Aube of Oudinot and Gerard, who, with Macdonald, are forced to Retreat towards Paris—Schwartzenberg wishes to Retreat behind the Aube—but the Emperor Alexander and Lord Castlereagh opposing the measure, it is determined to proceed upon Paris—Napoleon occupies Arcis—Battle of Arcis—Napoleon is joined, in the night after the Battle, by Macdonald, Oudinot, and Gerard—and Retreats along the Aube, [1]
[Chap. LXXVI.]—Plans of Buonaparte—Military and Political Questions regarding Paris—Napoleon crosses the Marne on 22d March—Retrospect of Events in the Vicinity of Lyons, &c.—Defeats of the French in various Quarters—Marmont and Mortier Retreat under the walls of Paris—Joseph Buonaparte—Maria Louisa, with the Civil Authorities, leave the City—Attack of Paris on the 30th—A Truce accorded—Joseph flies, [11]
[Chap. LXXVII.]—State of Parties in Paris—Royalists—Revolutionists—Buonapartists—Talleyrand—Chateaubriand—Mission to the Allied Sovereigns—Their Answer—Efforts of the Buonapartists—Feelings of the Lowest Classes—of the Middling Ranks—Neutrality of the National Guard—Growing confidence of the Royalists—Proclamations and White Cockades—Crowds assemble at the Boulevards—The Allies are received with shouts of welcome—Their Army retires to quarters—and the Cossacks bivouac in the Champs-Elysées, [28]
[Chap. LXXVIII.]—Fears of the Parisians—Proceedings of Napoleon—Operations of the French Cavalry in rear of the Allies—Capture of Weissemberg—The Emperor Francis is nearly surprised—Napoleon reaches Troyes on the night of the 29th March—Opinion of Macdonald as to the possibility of relieving Paris—Napoleon leaves Troyes, on the 30th and meets Belliard, a few miles from Paris, in full Retreat—Conversation betwixt them—He determines to proceed to Paris, but is at length dissuaded—and Despatches Caulaincourt to receive terms from the Allied Sovereigns—He himself returns to Fontainbleau, [35]
[Chap. LXXIX.]—The Allied Sovereigns issue a Proclamation that they will not treat with Buonaparte—A Provisional Government is named by the Conservative Senate, who also decree the Forfeiture of Napoleon—This decree is sanctioned by all the Public Bodies in Paris—The Legality of these Proceedings discussed—Feelings towards Napoleon, of the Lower Classes, and of the Military—On 4th April, Buonaparte issues a document Abdicating the Throne of France—His subsequent agitation, and wish to continue the War—The deed is finally dispatched, [40]